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A scene from the French crime series “Deadly Tropics.” Courtesy of MHz Choice

Regular readers know how much I’ve enjoyed the first three seasons of ”Deadly Tropics (Tropiques Criminels),” a relatively light-hearted police procedural set in Martinique, starring two attractive, yet totally opposite in every way, detectives and a recurring cast of colleagues, family members and the occasional romantic sidebar.

Here’s a link to my previous reviews for those starting anew with this 4th season, or wanting to refresh their memories:

“Deadly Tropics: Season 3” – TV review

As before, the season is eight hour-long episodes. Other than an opening two-parter, the rest present new crimes for our intrepid duo of Commander Melissa and their crew. Their oil-and-water personalities clash before they prove effective, as is customary for the genre. The elegant Melissa is still serious and by-the-book; tomboy Gaelle remains playfully indifferent to procedures while laser-focused on solutions. Respect and friendship have evolved,...

Sonia Rolland in French crime series “Deadly Tropics.” Courtesy of MHz Choice

Regular readers know I’ve reviewed dozens of streaming TV series from a number of European countries over the past few years. The light-hearted cop show, “Deadly Tropics (Tropiques Criminels)”, based in an idyllic (other than the requisite murders and assorted felonies) Caribbean locale has been one of my favorites. That made the 18-month gap between the domestic release of the first two seasons and this next one seem even longer.

To bring everyone up to speed, here are the links to those reviews on We Are Movie Geeks

Season 1

“Deadly Tropics” (“Tropiques Criminels”) – TV Series

Season 2

“Deadly Tropics” Season 2 – TV Series Review

Although each of these eight episodes features a different crime, it’s advisable to watch the series in order, due to evolving relationships among the regulars, and a few recurrent plot-lines and supporting players that...

(L-r) Gaelle (Beatrice de la Boulaye) and Melissa (Sonia Rolland) in “Deadly Tropics” on MHz Choice. Credit: ©Sylvie Castioni – Best Image. Courtesy of MHz Choice.

Season One of this light procedural from French TV, “Deadly Tropics” (“Tropiques Criminels”), was released for streaming and covered here last month, on Mar. 21. The “Deadly Tropics” Season One review and favorable recommendation, which remains useful for appreciating this second eight-episode season, can be found by scrolling through “Reviews” to that date.

Welcome back. Your indulgence is appreciated. Now that you’ve either been reminded or brought up to date, Season Two opens with Gaelle (Beatrice de la Boulaye) returning from a long self-imposed hiatus while nursing some emotional wounds. Melissa’s (Sonia Rolland) teenagers are still a pain in the butt; same, in a different way for their grumpy, misogynistic commissioner, who gripes far more than he contributes.

The first several episodes mix in...

(L-r) Julien Beramis, Valentin Papoudof, Sonia Rolland and Beatrice de la Boulaye, in a scene from the French TV crime series, “”Deadly Tropics” ” (“Tropiques Criminels”). Courtesy of MHz Choice.

For U.S. viewers to know what’s coming in the French TV crime series “Deadly Tropics” (“Tropiques Criminels”), let’s start with the components of Lethal Weapon as a baseline. First, change lead characters Riggs and Murtaugh into women. Then move the whole production from L.A. to Martinique, with most of the dialog in French. Tone down the violence considerably but keep most of the character comedy, and you’re prepped for an entertaining set of self-contained whodunit episodes in a gorgeous island setting.

We begin with Parisian police transfer Captain Melissa Sainte-Rose (Sonia Rolland), essentially banished to the Caribbean with her two kids for her fellow-officer hubby’s corruption that tainted her own previously-stellar reputation. She’s to...

“Postman” by Russian filmmaker Klim Tukaev has won the first prize at the sixth Nespresso Talents global short film competition.

“Bagman,” by Jan Kellner, took the second prize, while “Speaking in Flowers,” by Nicolina Sterbet, took third. Both are from the Czech Republic.

The winners were selected by the competition’s international jury, which includes actors Mark Chao (“Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings”) and Zita Hanrot (“Paul Sanchez est revenu!”), world explorer and adventurer Mike Horn, writer, director and Nespresso Talents 2020 winner Faride Schroeder (“Oasis”) and actor and director Sonia Rolland (“Madame”).

A total of 993 short films were submitted from 60 countries and 15 were shortlisted.

The awards ceremony took place on Friday at the Palais des Festivals with the participation of the jury members, guests and the winning filmmakers. Each winner received, in addition to the opportunity of attending the the Cannes Film Festival, a mentoring session with cinema experts and a cash prize.

Popular actor-turned-filmmaker Aissa Maiga and co-director Isabelle Simeoni discussed with Variety about their searing documentary feature examining the lack of representation of Black actors in films and series across France, Brazil and the U.S.

The documentary follows Maiga on a road-movie from Paris to Los Angeles and San Paolo to explore the historical roots of systemic racism and the impact of discrimination and stereotypes in films and series on societies and their respective popular culture. Through this journey, Maiga interviewed a wide range of inspiring figures, including Ryan Coogler (“Black Panther”), Ava DuVernay (“Selma”), Brazilian actor Tais Araujo and French actors Sonia Rolland, Firmine Richard, Nadège Beausson Diagne, as well as journalists and activists such as Rokhaya Diallo and Alexandra Loras. Set to premiere this month on Canal Plus in France, “Regard Noir” was produced by Zadig Productions and Nolita TV, and co-produced by Kanopee.

What’s the genesis...

The film is about the challenges facing black actresses in the global entertainment industry.

Paris-based film company Playtime has boarded sales on French actress Aïssa Maïga and filmmaker Isabelle Simeonie’s documentary Regard Noir, exploring the challenges facing black actresses to break into the entertainment industry worldwide.

The work takes Maïga, whose recent credits include Chiwetel Ejiofor’s The Man Who Harnassed The Wind and French drama Brother, on a journey from her native France to Los Angeles and Brazil, during which she interviewed professionals from across the entertainment world on the subject. Her interviewees include Ryan Coogler, Ava DuVernay...

Industry professionals call for greater diversity and inclusion on the big screen.

A group of French actors and directors have published an open letter decrying a lack of diversity on the big screen in France ahead of the troubled 45th César awards ceremony in Paris tonight (February 28).

Some 30 actors and filmmakers with Bame roots, including Aïssa Maïga, Eriq Ebouaney, Sonia Rolland, Edouard Montoute, Jimmy Jean-Louis are supporting the initiative alongside Olivier Assayas, Mathieu Kassovitz, Julien Leclercq and Gabrielle Lazure.

“We want to point out the paradox of a country, France, which names African-American director and producer Spike Lee as the...

Frustrated with the lack of diversity and inclusion in the French film industry, 16 black actresses took to the red carpet in Cannes on Wednesday night, staging a protest against racism just days after 82 women, led by Cannes jury president Cate Blanchett, launched their own call for gender equality.

Led by actress Aïssa Maïga (“Bamako”), the group struck a defiant note while promoting a new book, “Noire N’est Pas Mon Métier” (My Profession is Not Black), which Maïga co-authored.

Speaking with Variety, the actress called it “a historic moment” as 16 black women linked arms on the red carpet outside the Palais for the first time. “It was beyond my wildest dreams,” she said. “For 20 years, I’ve been acting, and I’ve never felt like this.

“This was a statement we wanted to make to the entire world.”

The book features candid stories about the prejudice faced by black actresses in the French film industry.

Exclusive: Paris-based Upside Distribution is screening a teaser trailer at Efm.

French action director Olivier Megaton is hitting the European Film Market (Efm) this weekend with a teaser screening of his upcoming documentary Roc, The World’s Greatest Con Artist, about infamous French con artist Christophe Rocancourt, which is currently in post-production.

The Taken 2 and Taken 3 and Transporter 3 director reveals that between big budget action pictures he likes to make documentaries.

“I started out as a painter, not a director. Documentary helps me return to something more human and artisanal that I had when I was painting,” says Megaton.

“As time goes by the films I make are more and more heavy, complicated and pressured. When I am not making films, I need to do something different as I am addicted to work and find it impossible to stop. Documentary is something perfect for me. There’s not so much pressure and I love...

Exclusive: Paris-based Upside Distribution is screening a teaser trailer at Efm.

French action director Olivier Megaton is hitting the European Film Market (Efm) this weekend with a teaser screening of his upcoming documentary Roc, The World’s Greatest Con Artist, about infamous French con artist Christophe Rocancourt, which is currently in post-production.

The Taken 2 and Taken 3 and Transporter 3 director reveals that between big budget action pictures he likes to make documentaries.

“I’m started out as a painter, not a director. Documentary helps me return to something more human and artisanal that I had when I was painting,” says Megaton.

“As time goes by the films I make are more and more heavy, complicated and pressured. When I am not making films, I need to do something different as I am addicted to work and find it impossible to stop. Documentary is something perfect for me. There’s not so much pressure and I love...

French actress Sonia Rolland announced last week, via her website, that she's currently shooting her first documentary, Rwanda, Mon Amour (Rwanda, My Love). The brief synopsis provided for the project explains the film as "through the eyes of Sonia, a documentary told in the first person about the birth[place] of the actress: Rwanda." Rwanda, Mon Amour will be presented by Bagan Films and So Mad Productions. A quick look at Bagan Films' website reveals that Rolland has another project in development there, a drama titled Une Vie Ordinaire (An Ordinary Life). The synopsis for Une Vie Ordinaire is as follows: Nadia and her little brother Gaël live alone with their mother in a council estate....

I've done many projects including Desordres, and this summer I'll be in Michigan shooting a movie called "Radio Days" where I play a French Senegalese woman, then I'll appear in French filmmaker Tavernier's movie Quai D'Orsay. From French/Rwandan actress, Sonia Rolland, in an interview with EuroMight.com, talking about her upcoming projects. We've covered  Désordres (Chaos) extensively; it opened in France last week, but no word on whether it'll travel west.  The other 2 projects she mentions are news to me. Of most interest is Radio Days, in which she plays a French Senegalese woman; it's of most interest because I can't find a single thing...

The psychological thriller is titled Désordres (Chaos), and it stars Isaach De Bankolé and Sonia Rolland, as history professor Vincent and his wife Marie, who have just moved from Paris (with their son) to a farm near a small town in the south of France, looking forward to a quieter life. Marie, a retired renowned international pianist unwillingly follows her husband. However, their hopes for a serene escape is disrupted from the very beginning, when Thibaut, one of Vincent’s students (played by Niels Schneider), invades their family getaway, and slowly, but surely, the couple starts to come apart. The film is directed by Étienne Faure. It's set...

The psychological thriller is titled Désordres (Chaos), and it stars Isaach De Bankolé and French-Rwandan actress Sonia Rolland, as history professor Vincent and his wife Marie, who have just moved from Paris (with their son) to a farm near a small town in the south of France, looking forward to a quieter life. Marie, a retired renowned international pianist unwillingly follows her husband. However, their hopes for a serene escape is disrupted from the very beginning, when Thibaut, one of Vincent’s students (played by Niels Schneider), invades their family getaway, and slowly, but surely, the couple starts to come apart. The film is directed...

A film we've been tracking for over a year now will finally be making its theatrical debut - but, only in France for right now! So our readers in France can count themselves lucky. The psychological thriller is titled Désordres (Chaos), and it stars Isaach De Bankolé and French-Rwandan actress Sonia Rolland, as history professor Vincent and his wife Marie, who have just moved from Paris (with their son) to a farm near a small town in the south of France, looking forward to a quieter life. Marie, a retired renowned international pianist unwillingly follows her husband. However, their hopes for a serene escape is disrupted from the very beginning, when Thibaut, one of...

French/Rwandan actress, Sonia Rolland will step behind the camera for the first time to direct a short film titled An Ordinary Life. Details are limited, but I can tell you that it's in development, and its synopsis reads: Nadia and her little brother Gaël live alone with their mother in a council estate. Nadia has been taking care of Gaël for some time in the absence of their mother who is receiving an education, 300 miles away from home. Nadia calls her mother every night to tell her about her day. After a fight at school, Nadia is expelled, and doesn't dare tell her mum the truth. But her mother comes back home earlier than expected... And as you...

Here's your first look at a psychological thriller we've been following since last fall - Désordres (Chaos), starring Isaach De Bankolé and French-Rwandan actress Sonia Rolland, as history professor Vincent, and his wife Marie who have just moved from Paris (with their son) into a farm near a small town in the south of France, looking forward to a quieter life. Marie, a retired renowned international pianist unwillingly follows her husband. From the very beginning, Thibaut, one of Vincent’s students (played by Niels Schneider), disrupts their family getaway, and slowly, the couple starts to come apart. The film is...

Here's an update on a project Emmanuel profiled last fall titled Désordres (Chaos), which stars Isaach de Bankole and French-Rwandan actress Sonia Rolland, as history professor Vincent, and his wife Marie who have just moved from Paris (with their son) into a farm near a small town in the south of France, looking forward to a quieter life, some kind of return to nature. Marie, a renowned international pianist, who retired in spite of her young age, has decided to follow her husband, but almost unwillingly. From the very beginning, Thibaut, one of Vincent’s students (played by Niels Schneider), disrupts this family getaway, and...

There are a whopping nine films nominated for Best Picture at this year’s Academy Awards. And between your work, family, and constant USA marathons of Law & Order: Svu (when will those ever stop being addictive?!), you simply may not have time to catch all nine in the theaters or at home. But never fear, dear PopWatchers — that’s why we’re here! Each day leading up to the Academy Awards on Feb. 26, we’ll provide you with a deep dive into one of the nine Best Picture nominees. Fear showing up to your Oscars party unprepared to discuss the year’s most notable films?...

The plot should feel familiar to anyone broadly informed in global politics, and it’s a story that could have taken place in several conflict-laden nations, past and present.

In short, a president of a country with North American interests is elected “democratically,” backed by the Us government, with Obama-like promises of hope and reform that are never fully realized, after he gets comfortable with his power – a limited power, since he’s still very much a puppet for a foreign, more powerful government. But just don’t tell him that; after all, he’s the man in the high castle - literally; and just like the Philip K Dick novel, there are a collection of characters; some of them know each other, while others are connected indirectly, as they all cope with living under near-totalitarianism. Plus, there are multiple subplots, as well as a story-within-the-story.

Eventually, the constituency who appointed the president become impatient,...